Literature Analysis 1

LITERARY ANALYSIS

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 Literature Analysis 2

Literature Analysis

Creon: “But his brother Polyneices, whom I name the exile who came back and sought to burn

his fatherland. The gods of his own kin, who tried to gorge on the blood he shared and lead the

rest of us as slaves- it is announced that no one in this town may give him a burial or mourn

him” (Grene & Wickoff 2013, p. 198).

Antigone: “For me it was not Zeus who made that order…nor did I think your orders were so

strong that you, a mortal man, could overrun the gods’ unwritten and unfailing laws” (Grene &

Wickoff 2013, p. 207).

The dilemma in the Sophocles is whether to apply human law or the law of God in the

burial of Antigone's dead brother, Polyneices. She lost all her brothers in the war except one who

decided to side with the enemies and joined them in fighting against their home city, earning the

title of traitor. Creon passed a decree stating that anyone found attempting to bury the traitor

would face execution (Grene & Wickoff 2013, p. 198). Antigone wants to give his brother a

decent send-off due to her fidelity to her family and the gods. Antigone is fully aware of the

implications of defying Creon and is ready to follow her convictions by disobeying human law. I

believe Antigone is correct, and I would act the way she did. She must do whatever it takes to

honor her late brother. God's law is supreme and human life is sacred regardless of the person's

deeds.
 Literature Analysis 3

Reference List

Grene, D & Wickoff E (eds.) 2013, Greek tragedies (Volume 1). The University of Chicago

Press.